Broadside entitled 'To the Public. Mode of Extinguishing Fire'

Transcription

TO THE PUBLIC.

MODE OF EXTINGUISHING FIRE.

THE awful scenes we have just witnessed, will, I trust, be sufficient to call thepublic attention to the subject of this paper ; and that liberality which in the present dayis so encouraging to the progress of Science, will, I hope, secure it a candid examina-tion. When witnessing the late dreadful Fire in the High Street, an idea suddenlyoccurred to me, embracing, as I thought, so much in its object, by conducing to thewelfare of my Fellow-Creatures, that I conceived it a duty incumbent upon me to makeit known. The accumulation of intelligence occasioned by the recent occurrences, hasso much occupied the Journals, as to close that source of communication. Withoutfurther preface, therefore, I shall proceed in the relation of the plan I have in view.To those at all conversant in Chemistry, the power of the Ærial Fluid, known by the nameof Carbonic Acid Gas, in extinguishing Fire, is perfectly familiar. This Gas exists soabundantly in nature, that it would seem to have been formed for some most importantpurpose ; and in common chalk is so predominant, that by a trifling degree of heat, itmay be expelled in great quantities. Without enumerating the various modes in which itmay be procured, I shall merely propose, that a Company be formed, and Gas-holderserected, the Gas to be thus distributed, like that of Coal Gas, through Towns. The apart-ments of every dwelling-house shall be provided with pipes, to be p aced at the highest partof the room, and only to be connected with the main pipes when their use is required.The connexion may be formed in a similar manner to that which is at present usedwhen water is required, by the opening of the plug. By such an arrangement, any Firein a dwelling-house may be extinguished in a few minutes. As this Gas may be dreadedfrom its deleterious effects in the inhalation, all danger is thus removed. The specificgravity of this Gas being greater than Atmospherical Air, it will consequently require thepressure of the Gas-holder to expel it from the pipes. All communication between theGas-holder and the pipes may be intercepted by a stop-cock, only to be opened in case ofnecessity. Other means may be used of forcing the Gas, such as Pumps, &c. of which Ishall speak more in detail, if my plan should be recognised. After the Gas has been used,if necessary, the common Fire-Engines might convey lime water for its removal ; or ifpumps be used for raising it, they can be easily made to return it. There are personswho may object to the expense of this undertaking ; but when we take into considerationthe anxiety and alarm which this proposal seems calculated to remove, humanity wouldsuggest its trial. The Carbonic Acid Gas generated in Breweries might be collectedfor this purpose.